Rotational positioning means for extension lights

ABSTRACT

A rotational positioning device for an extension light is disclosed which permits the extension light to be rotated into different positions. The device comprises a housing which is attached to the cage of the extension light and which encloses a spring-loaded angle-orienting device.

United States Patent 1191 Gortner 1451 Apr. 30, 1974 ROTATIONAL POSITIONING MEANS FOR EXTENSION LIGHTS [76] Inventor: James L. Gortner, 503 W.

Sycamore St., Stillwater, Minn. 55082 [22] Filed: June 18, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 370,841

[52] US. Cl 240/52.3, 240/52.1, 240/54 A [51] Int. Cl. F21] 15/12 [58] Field of Search 240/52 R, 52.1, 52.3, 54 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,707,229 4/1955 Breithaupt 240/54 A 2,460,173 1/1949 Halbing 240/54 A 2,694,776 1 H1954 Wittman 240/54 A 3,696,239 10/1972 Duddy 240/52.3

Primary Examiner--Richard M. Sheer 57 ABSTRACT A rotational positioning device for an extension light is disclosed which permits the extension light to be rotated into different positions. The device comprises a housing which is attached to the cage of the extension light and which encloses a spring-loaded angleorienting device.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures ROTATIONAL POSITIONING NIEANS FOR EXTENSION LIGHTS This invention relates to illumination accessories, more particularly to extension cord drop lights.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a means for positioning a shaded drop light independent of the supporting hook. The wire or rod axially extending from the bulb cage to the supporting hook is interrupted with the insertion of a housing in which a coil spring bears down on a star-shaped detent. A matching star-shaped recess in the housing receives and secures rotationally the star attached to the hook. A slight pull on the extension light handle separates the detent for rotation into any of six positions and, upon release, is securely held against rotation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a positioning means at low cost that is rugged, dependable and easy to operate.

These and other objects will become evident upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation section view of the invention applied to a trouble light;

FIG. 2 is a plan section view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of FIG. 1 shown in the operative position while turning the trouble light.

Trouble lights as manufactured today are provided with-a hook or other hanging means that is fixed rotationally with respect to the shade provided on the trouble light. As a consequence of this limitation direction of the light is limited to the positioning of the hook. This implies one direction of light and an opposing direction of shadow, or at best, this is reversed by the nuisance of removing the trouble light from its point of support, rotating it 180 degrees and then replacing it. Even within this limitation, unacceptable as it is, reaching up to turn the light 180 is often difficult and time consuming. As a result, one works either in partshadow or in glearing light rather than undergo the nuisance of rehooking the light in a suitable working position.

The present invention seeks to overcome this nuisance and increase working efficiency by providing a simple, yet dependable, means for directing the light in one direction and the shade in the other at will by simply tugging lightly on the trouble light handle, turning the light to the desired position, and upon release, securing the light against further rotation in the new positron.

Referring to the figures, the means 10, according to the invention, is shown attached to a trouble light 11. The means comprising a housing 12, a permanent cover 13, a recessed structure 14, a hook extending downwards to a rod 16 terminating in a shoulder 17, a star; spider or spoke wheel 18 and a coil spring 19.

Housing 12 on the bottom face 20, extends to a hub 21 bored with a hole 22 and tapped laterally to hole 22 a threaded hole 23 seating 21 set-screw.

The cage 24 has trouble light 11 having a light shield, not shown, extends axially in a rod 25. As shown in FIG. 1, trouble light 11 is securely held at rod 25 in means 10 by set screw 23.

Referring in particular to FIG. 3, operation of the invention is as follows: Depending on the work situation, the handle of light 11 may be pulled or, alternately, if the support means in hook 15 is rotatable and the light shade is to be kept in the same position, the support means is pulled up. Such upward pull is indicated by arrow 26 or a downward pull on light 1 1 is indicated by an arrow 27. This light pull separates spider 18 from recess 14. A twist of the light or the hook as indicated by arrows 28 then allows spider 18 to be set back into recesses 14 in an alternate angular orientation. Spring 19 secures the assembly against future rotation.

The means 10 can be applied either to a lamp cage designed with a stem 25 as shown in FIG. 1 or it may be simply applied to any existing trouble light simply by cutting off the hook leaving a stem comparable to stem 25. Hole 22 may be sized to take all or most existing trouble lights since set screw 23 takes care of different sizes when it it tightened.

With this means, it becomes apparent that working with a trouble light is made completely comfortable with regard to light direction and shadow from the eyes and also has the added advantage of avoiding frequent handling resulting in loss of time, nuisance and occasional dropping of the trouble light resulting in lamp replacement and possibly'damage to the cage.

What I now claim is:

l. A rotational positioning device for an extension light or the like, said device comprising: a hollow cylindrical housing having a top wall and a bottom wall, said top wall having an opening therein; means having a star-shaped recess formed therein secured within said housing adjacent the bottom wall of said housing; a star-shaped spider member within said housing between the top wall of said housing and said star-shaped recess means; a compression coil spring within said housing between the top wall of said housing and said star-shaped spider member, said spring having one end bearing against the top wall of said housing and having the other end bearing against said spider member for urging and retaining said spider member within said recess; a rod having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of said rod extending into said housing through the opening in the upper wall of said housing and being affixed to said spider member, the upper end of said rod being bent into a hook for support from any suitable object; a hub member integral with the bottom wall of said housing opposite said star-shaped recess means and extending downwardly therefrom, said hub member having a downwardly extending opening therein for receiving the upwardly extending rod of a conventional lamp cage enclosing a bulb fitted within a socket of a handle; means on said hub member and in communication with said opening for releasably securing the upwardly extending rod of a conventional lamp cage within said opening, whereby directional adjustment of the extension light is accomplished by axially pulling the cage in a downward direction which causes disengagement of the spider member from the star-shaped recess means thereby permitting rotational repositioning of the spider member with respect to the star-shaped recess means. 

1. A rotational positioning device for an extension light or the like, said device comprising: a hollow cylindrical housing having a top wall and a bottom wall, said top wall having an opening therein; means having a star-shaped recess formed therein secured within said housing adjacent the bottom wall of said housing; a star-shaped spider member within said housing between the top wall of said housing and said star-shaped recess means; a compression coil spring within said housing between the top wall of said housing and said star-shaped spider member, said spring having one end bearing against the top wall of said housing and having the other end bearing against said spider member for urging and retaining said spider member within said recess; a rod having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of said rod extending into said housing through the opening in the upper wall of said housing and being affixed to said spider member, the upper end of said rod being bent into a hook for support from any suitable object; a hub member integral with the bottom wall of said housing opposite said star-shaped recess means and extending downwardly therefrom, said hub member having a downwardly extending opening therein for receiving the upwardly extending rod of a conventional lamp cage enclosing a bulb fitted within a socket of a handle; means on said hub member and in communication with said opening for releasably securing the upwardly extending rod of a conventional lamp cage within said opening, whereby directional adjustment of the extension light is accomplished by axially pulling the cage in a downward direction which causes disengagement of the spider member from the star-shaped recess means thereby permitting rotational repositioning of the spider member with respect to the star-shaped recess means. 